Expression profiles of hydrophobic surfactant proteins in children with diffuse chronic lung disease

Background

Abnormalities of the intracellular metabolism of the hydrophobic surfactant proteins SP-B and SP-C and their precursors may be causally linked to chronic childhood diffuse lung diseases. The profile of these proteins in the alveolar space is unknown in such subjects.

Methods

We analyzed bronchoalveolar lavage fluid by Western blotting for SP-B, SP-C and their proforms in children with pulmonary alveolar proteinosis (PAP, n = 15), children with no SP-B (n = 6), children with chronic respiratory distress of unknown cause (cRD, n = 7), in comparison to children without lung disease (n = 15) or chronic obstructive bronchitis (n = 19).

Results

Pro-SP-B of 25–26 kD was commonly abundant in all groups of subjects, suggesting that their presence is not of diagnostic value for processing defects. In contrast, pro-SP-B peptides cleaved off during intracellular processing of SP-B and smaller than 19–21 kD, were exclusively found in PAP and cRD. In 4 of 6 children with no SP-B, mutations of SFTPB or SPTPC genes were found. Pro-SP-C forms were identified at very low frequency. Their presence was clearly, but not exclusively associated with mutations of the SFTPB and SPTPC genes, impeding their usage as candidates for diagnostic screening.

Conclusion

Immuno-analysis of the hydrophobic surfactant proteins and their precursor forms in bronchoalveolar lavage is minimally invasive and can give valuable clues for the involvement of processing abnormalities in pediatric pulmonary disorders.     

Characterization of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Streptococcus mutans</Emphasis> diversity by determining restriction fragment-length polymorphisms of the <Emphasis Type="Italic">gtfB</Emphasis> gene of isolates from 5-year-old children and their mothers

The diversity between Streptococcus mutans clinical isolates from 5-year-old children and their mothers in two South African ethnic groups was investigated. The gtfB gene encoding for glucosyltransferase (EC 2.4.1.5), an enzyme responsible for the synthesis of extracellular polysaccharides was characterized by PCR-RFLP with HaeIII restriction enzyme digestion. Forty-seven children were examined for dental caries and 128 S. mutans clinical isolates cultured from samples of their saliva and plaque and from the saliva of their mothers. Thirty-three children had active caries (70%) and the remainder (n = 14) were caries-free. Caries prevalence was significantly different (p = 0.02) between black African and coloured children, but no differences were found between gtfB amplitypes by caries or ethnic grouping. Thirty-four (27%) of the S. mutans clinical isolates investigated did not ferment melibiose. Melibiose-negative phenotypes (n = 10) isolated from four families showed gtfB RFLP patterns identical to each other. Mothers and children harboured between one and three amplitypes. GtfB amplitypes were identical in 17 families (17/47), of which nine only were identical to S. mutans reference strains. The percentage match between S. mutans amplitype from mothers and their children was low (13%) in the caries-free group compared to children with caries (44%). RFLP analysis of the gtfB gene showed the diversity of S. mutans genotypes within two South African populations that were acquired from mothers and other sources.     

Relation between insulin resistance and fast-migrating LDL subfraction as characterized by capillary isotachophoresis

The proportion of the electronegative low density lipoprotein [LDL(-)] subfraction, which is atherogenic, is increased in type 2 diabetes but is not reduced by glycemic control. Therefore, we evaluated the ability of a new technique, capillary isotachophoresis (cITP), to quantify charge-based LDL subfractions and examined the relation between insulin resistance and the cITP fast-migrating (f) LDL levels. Seventy-five 10-year-old boys were included. The two cITP LDL subfractions, fLDL and major LDL subfractions, were proportional to the LDL protein content within the range of 0.1-0.8 mg/ml LDL protein. Levels of cITP fLDL were positively correlated with triglyceride (TG) levels and negatively correlated with LDL size. Insulin resistance as assessed by the homeostasis model assessment (HOMA-IR) was positively correlated (P < 0.01) with cITP fLDL levels (r = 0.41). The relation between HOMA-IR and cITP fLDL levels depended on TG levels but was independent of body mass index and LDL size. cITP lipoprotein analysis is an accurate and sensitive method for quantifying charge-based LDL subfractions in human plasma, and insulin resistance is related to cITP fLDL independent of LDL size.     

Status of intestinal parasite infections among children in Bat Dambang, Cambodia

A survey was conducted to determine the extent of intestinal parasite infection in Bat Dambang, Cambodia in March 2004. A total of 623 fecal specimens was collected from kindergarten and schoolchildren and examined using the formalin-ether sedimentation technique. The overall infection rate of intestinal parasites was 25.7% (boys, 26.2%; girls, 25.1%), and the infection rates of intestinal helminthes by species were as follows: Echinostoma sp. 4.8%, hookworm 3.4%, Hymenolepis nana 1.3%, and Rhabditis sp. 1.3%. The infection rates of intestinal protozoa were; Entamoeba coli 4.8%, Giardia lamblia 2.9%, Iodamoeba butschlii 1.4%, Entamoeba polecki 1.1%, and Entamoeba histolytica 0.8%. There were no egg positive cases of Ascaris lumbricoides or Trichuris trichiura. All children infected were treated with albendazole, praziquantel, or metronidazole according to parasite species. The results showed that intestinal parasites are highly endemic in Bat Dambang, Cambodia.     

儿童慢性鼻窦炎的综合治疗

目的探讨儿童慢性鼻窦炎的有效治疗方法。方法回顾分析2001年1月～2004年10月在大连大学附属中山医院治疗的113例儿童慢性鼻窦炎的临床资料,分析5种治疗方法的疗效。结果根据患儿的病情,分别采取5种治疗方法,按1997年海口会议标准评定疗效,总有效率为88．5％。结论儿童慢性鼻窦炎的治疗要根据病情及伴随的相关疾病采取相应的治疗方法,才能提高疗效。     

Body mass effects of a physical activity and healthy food intervention in middle schools

Objective: To evaluate the effects of a 2‐year middle school physical activity and healthy food intervention, including an environmental and computer‐tailored component on BMI and BMI z‐score in boys and girls. Research Methods and Procedures: A random sample of 15 schools with seventh and eighth graders was randomly assigned to three conditions: an intervention with parental support group, an intervention‐alone group, and a control group. Weight and height were measured at the beginning and end of each school year to assess BMI and BMI z‐score. A physical activity and healthy food program was implemented over 2 school years. Results: In girls, BMI and BMI z‐score increased significantly less in the intervention with parental support group compared with the control group (p < 0.05) or the intervention‐alone group (p = 0.05). In boys, no significant positive intervention effects were found. Discussion: This was the first study evaluating the effectiveness of an intervention combining environmental changes with personal computer‐tailored feedback on BMI and BMI z‐score in middle school children. After 2 school years, BMI and BMI z‐score changed in a more positive direction in girls as a result of the intervention with parental support.     

A family-based approach to preventing excessive weight gain

Objective: Preventing weight gain in adults and excessive weight gain in children is a high priority. We evaluated the ability of a family‐based program aimed at increasing steps and cereal consumption (for breakfast and snacks) to reduce weight gain in children and adults. Research Methods and Procedures: Families (n = 105) with at least one 8‐ to 12‐year‐old child who was at‐risk‐for‐overweight or overweight (designated as the target child) were recruited for the study. Eighty‐two families were randomly assigned to receive the family‐based intervention and 23 families to the control condition. The 13‐week intervention consisted of specific increases in daily steps (an additional 2000 steps/d) and consumption of 2 servings/d of ready‐to‐eat cereal. Results: The intervention was successful in increasing walking (steps) and cereal consumption. The intervention had positive, significant effects on percentage BMI‐for‐age and percentage body fat for target children and weight, BMI, and percentage body fat for parents. On further analysis, the positive effects of the intervention were seen largely in target girls and moms, rather than in target boys and dads. Discussion: This family‐based weight gain prevention program based on small changes holds promise for reducing excessive weight gain in families and especially in growing overweight children.     

儿童泌尿系感染的病原学分析

探讨目前儿童泌尿系感染病原体的变化趋势,为临床治疗提供实验依据。分析2008年1月至2009年10月住院治疗的357例尿细菌培养、支原体体外培养、衣原体检测阳性的泌尿系感染患儿病原体的分布情况。结果显示,尿细菌培养和支原体体外培养、衣原体检测前未应用过抗生素的患儿其阳性率为82.2%,而应用过抗生素的患儿其阳性率为31.8%,两者相比具有统计学意义(P0.01)。在检测的357例阳性标本中,革兰阴性杆菌占74.7%,其中以大肠埃希菌为主,占46.2%;革兰阳性球菌占14.8%,其中肠球菌占10.9%;真菌占3.1%,支原体占4.8%,衣原体占2.5%。临床要密切关注儿童泌尿系感染病原体的分布变迁情况,以便于为临床的诊断和治疗提供可靠的实验依据。     

Low species diversity and high interindividual variability in faeces of preterm infants as revealed by sequences of 16S rRNA genes and PCR-temporal temperature gradient gel electrophoresis profiles

Little information regarding the composition of the gut microbiota in preterm infants is available. The purpose of this study was to investigate the bacterial diversity in faeces of preterm infants, using analysis of randomly cloned 16S rRNA genes and PCR-TTGE (temporal temperature gradient gel electrophoresis) profiles, to determine whether noncultivated bacteria represented an important part of the community. The 288 clones obtained from faecal samples of 16 preterm infants were classified into 25 molecular species. All but one molecular species had a cultivated representative in public databases: molecular tools did not reveal any unexplored diversity. The mean number of molecular species per infant was 3.25, ranging from one to eight. There was a high interindividual variability. The main groups encountered were the Enterobacteriaceae family and the genera Enterococcus, Streptococcus and Staphylococcus. Seven preterm infants were colonized by anaerobes and only four by bifidobacteria. TTGE profiles were composed of one to nine bands (mean value: 4.3). Furthermore, 51 of 59 clones (86%) comigrated with a band of the corresponding faecal sample. This study will form a comparative framework for other studies, e.g. on the faecal microbiota of preterm infants with different pathologies or the impact of diet on colonization.